Granulators



N. H. MORIN Dec. 3l, 1968 GRANULATORS Sheet L of 2 Filed Dec. 23, 1966 In ven fr /Ve/sorz H Mor/'fz Dec. 3l, 1968 N. H. MORIN 3,419,223

GRANULAToRs Filed Dec. 23, 1966 Sheet 3 United States Patent D 3,419,223 GRANULATORS Nelson H. Morin, Chestnut Hill Road, Millville, Mass. 01529 Filed Dec. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 604,394 7 Claims. (Cl. 241-73) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A granulating machine for cutting various materials by the action of rotary blades co-acting with stationary lades in a cutting zone and in which the material which has been reduced to predetermined particle size flows out of the cutting zone through a curved screen generally concentric with the axis of rotation of the rotary blades.

This invention relates `generally to improvements in comminuting machines or granulators for cutting, grinding, granulating, pulverizing or shredding a wide variety of materials. More particularly the invention is directed to improvements in such machines in which a reduction in particle size of material is accomplished by rotary knives or blades operating upon the material with a combination of impact and cutting action against stationary blades and in which a curved screen is mounted in generally concentric relation with the path of the rotary blades to permit the flow by gravity of particles of material lwhich have already been sufficiently reduced.

A typical installation of a granulator of the type to which the invention is directed is for the purpose of dividing into relatively small and readily useable particles, pieces of plastic scrap to render them sufficiently fine for re-use when mixed with virgin material. Examples of machines of this type are those disclosed in U.S. Letters Patent No. 2,232,828, issued Feb. 25, 1941 upon an application of F. M. Roddy; 2,381,775, issued Aug. 7, 1945 upon an application of F. M. Roddy and 2,830,770 isstructions. Time is required for substantial dismantlement of the machine to obtain access to the screen which often becomes wedged by relatively large pieces of material interposed between a rotary blade and the screen and thus prevent relative motion between the rotary blades and the screen. Thorough cleaning of conventional machines to prevent contamination of the material is also time consuming.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to simplify and facilitate the cleaning and clearing of obstructions from granulating machines of the type already described.

Another object of the invention is to improve access in such machines to blades, both movable and stationary for adjustment and replacement.

Still another object of the invention is to increase the screen area and hence the operating el'liciency of granulating machines.

A further object is to provide a granulator having minimum iioor space requirements yet adapted to inclusion in a customized installation including apparatus for conveying material to and from the granulator.

vIn the achievement of the foregoing objects a feature of the invention relates to a novel supporting frame including a heavily constructed base portion in which an arcuate sizing screen is supported, and a hollow frame hingedly supported on the base and in turn supporting rotary blades and xed blades in accurately predetermined relationship. While the frame is latched in operative position the screen is rmly retained in position and the space above the screen and within the path of the movable blades defines a granulating cavity. By releasing a latch which holds the frame in operative position it is easily pivoted about the hinge to a maintenance or cleaning position in which the blades are away from the screen, thus completely freeing the screen for easy withdrawal and exposing the blades for adjustment. Also, since the blades are then spaced from the screen, the rotor may be Vmoved manually in either direction to clear obstructions from positions in which they are frequently encountered.

According to a related feature of the invention the weight of a motor for driving the rotary blades may be mounted on the frame in such a way that its weight counterbalances the weight of the frame and thus facilitates the raising of the frame. While the frame is open the operator is protected against accidental closure of the frame by a reliable lock and against starting of the motor by an electrical interlock.

The foregoing objects, features and numerous advantages of the present invention will be more fully realized from the following description of an illustrative embodiment taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. l is a view in perspective taken from the right front of a granulating machine according to the present invention showing the parts in operative relationship;

FIG. 2 is a View in perspective taken from a position similar to that of FIG. l and illustrating the machine of FIG. 1 open for cleaning;

FIG. 3 is a view in cross section taken on a plane normal to the front of the machine and showing the grinding instrumentalities of the machine in closed operative relationship; and

FIG. 4 is a View in cross section similar to FIG. 3 but showing the machine open for cleaning.

There is shown in the drawings, particularly FIGS. 1 and 2, an illustrative machine comprising a casing 10 upon which is hinged at 12 a box-like frame 14. The arrangement depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a hollow base 16 mounted on casters 18 to facilitate movement of the machine to convenient locations for receiving or discharging material operated upon. Pairs of supporting blocks 20 integral with the interior of the front and rear walls of the casing 10 support the forward and rearward end of an arcuate screen 22 loosely fitted on the blocks and locked in place only when the frame 14 is lowered into operative position. Support `of the screen 22 is also achieved by shallow arcuate ledges (not show-n) formed in the side walls. In this way, when the frame 14 is tilted upwardly about the hinge 12 the screen 22 is completely free to be removed without tools.

The interior of the frame 14 is constructed with integral shelves upon which a pair of opposed adjustably iixed blades 24 are secured each backed by a gib 26 of generally L-shaped cross section and clamped by a plurality of screws 28. It will be noted that while the frame 14 is in operative position as shown in FIG. 3 the gibs 26 hold the screen 22 captive against the blocks 2t). On the other hand, when the frame 14 is raised to its cleaning position as seen in FIGS. 2 and 4 the screws 28 are readily accessible to be loosened for adjustment to the blades 24 or completely removed for the replacement of the blade.

Cooperating with the blades 24 is a pair of rotary blades best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. The blades 30 are adjustably xed by screws 32 to a rotor 34 which is journalled outside the frame 14 and driven as will be described. Since the rotor is free to be revolved manually when the frame is in its cleaning position it will be appreciated from FIGS. 3 and 4 that the screws 32 are readily accessible to be loosened for adjustment of the blades 30 or completely removed for the replacement of the blade.

The frame 14 is retained in operative position by a latch 36 pivotally mounted on a latch block 38 which is secured to the casing 10 and slotted to receive a biturcated block 40 secured to the housing 14. The block 40 is received in the slot in the latch block 38 to locate the path of the rotary blades 30 with regard to the arcuate screen. The spacing between the screen 22 and the path of the blades is somewhat less than the size of apertures in the screen so that particles of material which have not been suiciently reduced in size to pass through the screen continue to be operated upon by the blades 30. The granulating action of the machine is effected not only by the spatial relationship of the screen 22 with the rotary blades 30 but also by the clearance between the rotary blades and the stationary blades 24. In the machine of the present invention the relationship of the iixed and rotary blades is precisely adjustable and permanently maintainable within the frame 14 and is not in any way disturbed by the raising of the frame for cleaning or maintenance of the machine.

The rotor 34 is formed with cylindrical portions at its ends which are journalled in anti-friction pillow blocks 46 iixedly hanging from brackets 47 formed integral with the frame 14. The rotor 34 is driven by a motor 48 through a plurality of V-belts 50 which couple a driving pulley mounted on the motor shaft to a driven pulley 52 mounted directly upon the rotor. Because the rotor is journalled exteriorly of the trame 14 the possibility of contamination by lubricant of material being operated upon is substantially eliminated. In addition, the mounting of the motor is such that its weight counterbalances that of the frame 14 and of the parts mounted within it.

The motor 48 is adjustably supported on a mounting plate assembly 54 pivoted 4at 56 on a pair of upstanding spaced apart bosses 58 integral with a top plate 60 forming a part of the frame 14. Near its lower edge the plate assembly S4 is loosely penetrated by an eye-bolt 62 hinged to a rearwardly extending ear of the frame 14 by a pin 64. The eye-bolt 62 carries a pair of opposed check nuts 66 which are adjusted along the length of the bolt to adjust the tightness of the V-belts 50. In order to prevent movement of the rotor 34 when the frame 14 is raised and the blades are exposed an electrical interlock is provided in the form of a normally open switch 68 mounted on the frame 14 and electrically in series with a relay coil in a starter 69 for the motor 48. When the casing is lowered to its operative position a plunger 70 of the switch 68 is raised by engagement with the casing; 10 to close the switch and connect the starter coil to the power line. The motor may then be restarted by depressing the starter button 71. However, the plunger 70 is spring pressed to its normally open condition and thereby de-energizes the starter coil and thus the motor when the frame 14 is open. In order to prevent accidental descent of the frame 14 and possible injury to an operator in the process of cleaning the machine, a simple but effective lock is provided in the form of a bar 72 pivoted at 74 on the frame 14. The bar 72 is free to swing in a vertical plane so that when the frame 14 is raised, the bar assumes a vertical bracing position against a block 76 which also serves as part of the hinge 12. In order to lower the frame into operating position the operator merely raises the frame slightly and swings the lower end of the bar 72 forwardly so that it slides into an oblique position with its lower end lying atop the casing 1t).

In FIGS. 1 and 2 particularly, the illustrative machine is shown as a mobile unit including a hopper 78 through which material to be granulated is fed to the grinding chamber and a drawer into which granulated material falls by gravity through the screen 22. However, since all ot the operating and drive portions of the machine are mounted between the bottom of the casing 10 and the top plate 60, the present organization provides a compact operating core which is readily adaptable to custom installation suited to the requirements of an individual plant. For

this purpose the hopper 78 which is normally secured to the top plate 6G and the hollow base 16 which normally supports the casing 10 are dispensed with and replaced by customized accessories.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A granulator comprising a base portion, a hollow casing mounted on the base, xed and rotary blades supported in the casing in a granulating zone, an arcuate screen supported in the base in generally concentric relationship with the path of the rotary blade, and releasable means holding the casing in operative position but releasable to permit movement of the casing to a maintenance position in which the rotary blades are separated from the screen.

2. A granulator according to claim 1 further characterized in that the casing is hingedly supported on the base and pivoted from its operative position to its maintenance position.

3. A granulator according to claim 2 further comprising a lock mounted on the casing and bearing against the base while the casing is in its maintenance position to prevent accidental descent of the casing toward the screen.

4. A granulator according to claim 1 wherein said fixed blades comprise a pair of opposed stationary blades, a gib securing each blade to the casing and having a portion in retaining relationship with the screen while the casing is in operative position, the gib being movable away from the screen as the casing is moved to its maintenance position thereby leaving the screen free to be lifted from the base.

5. A granulator according to claim 4 further comprising removable fastenings adjustably a'lxing the stationary blades to the casing and accessible from the direction of the screen for loosening when the casing is in its maintenance position.

6. A granulator according to claim 1 wherein said releasable means comprises a latch retaining the casing in operative position and a horizontal hinge connecting the casing to the base and about which hinge the casing is pivotable to its maintenance position when the latch is released.

7. A granulator according to claim 1 further comprising a hinge pivotally connecting the casing to the base and a motor driving the rotary blade and supported in counterbalancing relationship with the casing about the hinge.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 577,278 2/ 1897 Autenrieth 241-73 1,560,433 ll/l925 Snyder 241--73 3,360,204 12/1967 Mergcs 241--73 LESTER M. SWINGLE, Primary Examiner.

JAMES T. MCKEOWN, A ssstant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. XR. 241-89 

